Techmoan, The Best Electronics Blog

If you are like me, you probably spend a lot of time investigation things before you make a decision, sad I know, but it’s how I am. This applies to all aspects of my life, probably except in my choice of women, but that’s another story.

Why do I feel the need to share that little titbit? I came across an excellent blog the other day, while searching for reviews about the SJ4000 sports camera, called Techmoan. A British electronics items reviewer who gives refreshingly unbiased reviews. His comical manner and fresh approach make his reviews accurate and unbiased, he calls a spade a spade in a good northern manner.

He doesn’t only review sports cameras, he also reviews computers, smartwatches and publishes repair videos. Check it out, especially if you are looking to buy any of the items he has reviewed. You will find his opinions really useful.

What to Expect from New Android L Release

Android L update

The worlds most popular mobile phone operating system is without doubt the one with the little green man. The bitten fruit is going into steady decline as more and more people realise that the advantages and flexibility of android far outweigh the media hype of Apple.

 

With all the interest in the Android operating system we ask ourselves, what will the next iteration of Android have in store for us? Rumour has it that the next Android update, due in a round three months time, will be a biggie. Android L, or Lollipop as some are calling it is going to be spectacular, and we want to share with you our thoughts on what it could hold in store for us.

 

Android L round-up with features.

First of all, we’re not sure if the new version of Android will be Androis 4.5 of Android 5. It doesn’t really make much difference, but it could tell us a lot about how radically the operating system is going to change. A simple change of 0.1, from 4.4 to 4.5 would imply a small change, whereas to make the jump to 5 would hint to a radical change. Lets hope it goes to 5!! What we do know is that the new version is going to include nearly 5000 new API for developers and the default runtime is changing to ART.

 

With all these new API’s that are going to be integrated in the latest release we should see some new functionality and hopefully better battery life. A few of the new items will be Screen Capture, shown at Google I/O, burst mode for the camera, JobScheduler, low latency audio, do not disturb mode, path animations, Battery Saver mode and many, many more features. As we get closer to the release date we can expect the multicolour named search engine giant to give us more hints as to what to expect. Here at China Electronics we will keep you posted.

 

With all these added features for developers, we can expect to see much more functionality in the new Android release. Applications will be able to be more complex and achieve much more.

 

What are your expectations from the new android operating system? Is there anything you would particularly like to see? Longer battery life? Better Android user interface? A radical new design? Please feel free to let us know in the comments section below, and if you have enjoyed the article, please share it!

 

Check out all the Android Smartphones available on China Electronics.

 

Source> http://www.androidorigin.com/android-l-4-5-0-lollipop-update-google/#ixzz37c2RPi8c

The 5 Best Action Cameras on the Market

More and more people today are participating in adrenaline fuelled sports and death defying feats as technology advances to make these types of sports safer. One of the major joys of doing these things is being able to share the amazing moments with our friends and family. Since the introduction of the sports camera everybody including novice mountain climbers, X-Games, athletes, intermediate mountain bike riders and paraglider pilots can share their extreme moments and insane stunts in point of view, HD glory.

The market for action cameras has risen dramatically over the past couple of years and thanks to the demand of these first person view cameras, many new makes of sports camera have arrived on the market. Everybody is familiar with the current market leader, GoPro, but there are many other alternatives out there, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. We have whittled down all the vast alternatives into 5 of what we consider to be the best action sports cameras on the market today.

 

GoPro Hero3 Black Edition

GoPro Hero 3 Black

The current market leader and benchmark for all sports cameras, the GoPro Hero 3 Black edition boasts a plethora of specs that others cameras only dream to have. With its 12MP CMOS sensor, and wide angle f/2.8 lens you can record eye popping 4K uhd footage at 12fps (frames per second) that will blow your friends away. Other video modes available are 2.7K/30 fps to 720p/120fps both of which are HD type footage. The camera comes with its own WiFi operated remote control and can be controlled with the free GoPro app for your mobile phone. It comes bundled with CineForm video editing software which had various digital filter effects and editing controls to produce eye popping, spiced up footage. This really is the best of the best at the moment but it will set you back a cool £300

 

Buy now from http://www.amazon.co.uk

 

Drift HD Ghost

Drift HD Ghost

The Drift HD Ghost is marketed towards outdoor athletes and is really an all rounder in the action camera scene. One advantage over the market leader is that it has a 2 inch LCD screen, toughened with Gorilla Glass so you can see the footage you are filming which helps you to set up the perfect shot. The lens on the Drift Hd Ghost can be rotated a whole 360 degrees which helps to level out any shots from awkward angles and the lens itself can take in a whole 170 degree wide angled spectrum. It offers a broad range of HD recording modes and has wind reducing software so the microphone records a much better sound quality than other action cameras. The built in WiFi allows you to transfer and edit clips on iOS devices (Android not currently available) and has a removable battery pack so you can change batteries to extend video recording time. It comes boxed with a handful of flat and curved mounts so you can attach it to a variety of surfaces.

 

Buy Now £250 from http://www.wexphotographic.com

 

Sony Action Camera with Wi-Fi

Sony Action Camera

This camera really is a beast and is built to last and endure the hardest treatment. It shares the majority of features with its two main rivals above, but it has been built to a much tougher standard and has been designed to outlive even its own operator. It has a super slim and aerodynamic design that lends itself to super fast, adrenaline filled, video filming moments and you won’t even feel that the camera is there. This camera boasts the longest battery life of all the cameras we have shown here with an estimated life of three to four hours.

 

This camera is also WiFi controlled and you can start it recording remotely in various modes such as 1080p 30/60fps and 720p 30/120fps. The most important factor is that the lens is a Carl Zeiss creation, renowned worldwide as one of the best lens manufacturers. All this coupled with the ability to share your videos on social media directly from the camera itself should persuaded you that its not to hefty price tag is worth it.

 

Buy Now: £198 http://www.wiggle.co.uk

 

SJ4000

SJ4000

The SJ4000 is a budget action camera that is not shy of features. At only £60 you would be forgiven for thinking that this camera is no good. Au contraire, mon ami. Don’t let its budget price fool you. It may not be as high ion specs as the others but it has 90% of the specifications at 25% of the price. Capable of filming at a maximum of 1080p 30fps on its 12MP sensor you can film some amazing footage at amazing HD quality. It does lack a little on the battery life, filming for only 1 hour at full HD, but as spare batteries only cost £3, carry a couple extra and film all day. It comes with a 1.5 inch LCD screen on the back to be able to line up and see exactly what you are filming. The tough case lets you submerge the camera in up to 30 metres of water without worrying about it breaking and it is compatible with all GoPros accessories. If you’re unsure about what you can really achieve with an action camera, you can try this one out without taking out a second mortgage for the GoPro. Most people, once they buy the SJ4000 find it is enough for their needs and prefer to spend another £60 on a second one rather than change it for a GoPro.

 

Buy now £60 http://www.chinaelectronics.co.uk

 

GoTop HD

GoTop

This other budget camera also boasts some impressive features at a not so high price. Its 16MP CMOS sensor (better than the GoPro) is capable of filming 1080p footage at 120fps. This make for some awesome footage that rivals anything the GoPro can kick out. Submersible at up to 30 metres you really can take this camera anywhere. It comes bundled with 5 mounting accessories allowing you to place it anywhere you want to record any kind of adrenaline fuelled footage.

 

Buy Now £130 http://www.chinaelectronics.co.uk

The 5 Best Tough Smartphones

Today we like to be connected at all times, able to take photos and publish them on twitter even in the most extreme situations. Things like “Look ay my selfie hanging off this cliff”. However most modern phones are too fragile to risk taking with us, any slight drop or bang and the screen is broken and we are left with a very expensive door siop in our pockets.

But it doesn’t have to be like that, many mobile phone manufacturers have started making ‘rugged’ smartphones. These little babies are tough and ready for adventure. If Action Man had a smartphone, he would have one of these. Toughened and reinforced in all the right places these ‘rugged’ phones can be taken almost anywhere.

I have decide to compile a list of the 5 best rugged smartphones on the market just now so you can compare the differences and see what is available out there for your outdoor lifestyle.

The Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2

Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2

£190, www.amazon.co.uk

This phone is the new version of the Xcover and comes out of the box running Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. It features a double core processor capable of running many applications without any problem. It features a 5 inch screen with a resolution of 800×480. The camera is a 5MP offering, which although it isn’t the best, it does make this phone a mid range contender. Apart from its normal phone features it boasts IP67 certified ruggedness. What does that really mean? Well it means that it is dust and sand proof and can endure other types of rough treatments as well as up to 30 minutes in one metre of water.

JCB Toughphone Pro-Smart TP909

JCB Rugged Phone

£280 (PAYG), http://www.carphonewarehouse.com

When you think of the company JCB you immediately think about diggers and construction sites and big compressed hammer wielding, butt crack showing workmen. Well those types of guys will need a tough phone and the JCB Toughphone does just that. It certainly looks the part, and this TP909 looks as though it could survive a direct nuclear attack. But it doesn’t stop there, it also boasts Android 2.3, a 5MP camera and microSD slot. It isn’t the fastest with only an 800mHz processor and 256MB of ram.

Sony Xperia Go

Sony Xperia Go

£220, www.sonymobile.com/gb

One of the major selling points of this Sony phone is the fact that it doesn’t have that characteristic ‘rugged’ look. If you need a tough phone, but aren’t too keen on the rough look then this phone could be the one for you. Below its well made up outside it does hide a rugged interior that is waterproof and scratch resistant. It isn’t too expensive really, but that does reflect in the battery life and screen resolution which aren’t of the best in this smartphone range.

Bison II

Bison II

£140

http://www.chinaelectronics.co.uk/35_Inch_Rugged_Android_Phone_-_Bison_II/p2815400_12510666.aspx

 

This rugged Android phone runs Androis 4.2 and hides in its interior a 1GHz Dual Core MTK6577 making it a fast contender in the rugged phone race. It holds the IP67 rating making it dustproof, sand proof, shock proof and able to withstand 30 minutes in one metre of water. It boasts a toughened screen with a resolution of 960×640 making it perfect for looking at photos and streaming videos. Although it isn’t from a well known brand name it is a perfectly viable rugged phone.

Ox Black

Ox Black

£170

http://www.chinaelectronics.co.uk/Android_Quad_Core_Rugged_Phone_-_Ox_Black/p2815400_12510707.aspx

 

This 4.3 inch screen Android phone is about as tough as they come. Running Android 4.2 it boasts a 3000 mAh battery for up to 8 hours of talk time and 150 hours of standby time. Completely toughened it complies with IP67 being sandproof, dustproof and submersible in water for up to half an hour. It’s not too bad looking either, easy on the eye as well as easy on the pocket.

 

Buying Electronics from China

We are all used to seeing brand name electronics in our stores both online and in the high street, but have youo ever considered buying your electronics online direct from China? Most people would be surprised at the quality and cheapness of the products available.

My name is Philip Dodd and I am the owner of China Electronics. In this article I would like to introduce you to the world of online electronics direct from the manufacturer in China. I have been importing products from China for some time now  and in my experience I always get asked the same questions over and over again so I have decided to write this article to help answer some of those doubts.

Are the items good quality, won’t they just be cheap copies?

This is the main question I get asked over and over again. The answer is no. Nowadays 99% of our consumer electronics are manufactured in China or some other far eastern country. The manufacturing companies in China are well versed in the making of electronics items and are renowned as being some of the best in the world. That said you will also find the majority of the cheap fakes are also made there too. Thats where people like me come in. I have spent years sourcing the best manufacturers to offer tried and tested products with my own personal seal of approval. In reality the same factories that produce items the likes of the GoPro or Samsung mobile phonesm also produce ‘No Brand’ electronics items to the same specifications that are identical in every way to the branded item, except for the price.

Won’t I have to wait a month for delivery? Will my item really arrive?

This question is a very valid question. It’s normal to expect thing to take a long time to arrive, especially when they are coming form almost halfway round the world. When we compare to the 24-48 hour delivery times we are used to in the UK. In fairness the average delivery time for item sent from China is in the region of 7 to 15 days if you choose the standard international delivery option. Of course, items can be delivered in much less time if you use international courier companies like UPS or DHL. In which case items can take as little as 2 or 3 days. Of course, the international delivey companies will charge a fee for their express services, but more often than not, the item price plus postage is still a lot cheaper than the branded item on sale in the UK. If you are not in amy rush to receive your item, quite often the economy international delivery is more than enough.

Will I pay enormous import costs?

One of the major advantages of posting with economy international postage is that the sender doesn’t have to declare quite as specifically the contents of the package. This is a great advantage when it comes to importation. Many of our manufacturers will send out items in incospicuous packages with the minimum possible price declaration on the packaging. This means that in 99% of sent items there wil be NO importation duty to pay, especially if you only order one item at a time. When it comes to international couriers like UPSor DHL, they tend to need more specific item details when posting and therefore are more lilely to suffer from import duties. We always send our items as economy international postage as standard, but if you prefer to receive your item a little faster, we will send them by other international couriers.

What if my item arrives faulty, I can’t just nip back to the shop.

Like with any other online website, the fact that you buy your item online doesn’t affect your statutory rights. If you receive a faulty item you can send it back either for a replacement or a refund, depending on which you would prefer. Certainly here at China Electronics, we value our customers more than anything and all we ask is for you to send us your faulty items back to us and we will refund the item price and the return postage. We have a European return address so that the postage is cheaper for all returns. If you have any trouble just reach us on our contact page for full retuns details.

What if my item isn’t what I expected?

Like with any online retailer, its always difficult to let your customers know exaclty what your products are like because you can’t come into our online store and touch and feel the product you wish to buy. For that reason we offer a 30 day, no quibbles money back guarantee. On our website we try to describe in excellent detail all of our products, but in the case that you feel our item doesn’t match exactly the description, just send us the item back followin the same instuctions as in the previous chapter.

As with all purchases online you run the risk of buying something ‘blind’ as it were, and the fat that your items come from so far away causes more concern still. I only hope that this article helps you to understand that buying items from China has no need to be any more untrustworthy that going to the high street, or compared to any other online sale. Please feel free to check out all our items at China Electronics